Stanley Bradshaw obituary

Stanley Bradshaw, who has died aged 97, was a Lancashire fell runner, walker and climber. In 1960, he became only the second man to break the 28-year-old record of Bob Graham, who in his famous Round of the Fells climbed 42 Lakeland peaks within 24 hours. Stan repeated the Round on attaining pensioner status in 1977.

Fred Rogerson, former chairman of the Bob Graham 24 Hour Club, described Stan as "one of the all-time greats," adding: "By example and inspiration, he encouraged and assisted many people to attempt long-distance mountain challenges."

Coming from a family of professional footballers and sprinters, Stan (named after Accrington Stanley FC) grew up in Padiham, where he worked in the family tripe business. His own highly promising football career was terminated by injury in his late teens and he then turned to amateur athletics, excelling at cross-country and fell racing.

After service in the Eighth Army during the second world war, Stan helped to reform his club, Clayton-le-Moors Harriers, and during the 1950s began long-distance fell running, performing with distinction in the Lake District Mountain Trial and in Yorkshire's Three Peaks Race.

Stan's fell walking exploits included all the classic Pennine bogtrots, a blizzard-blighted crossing of Scotland's 12 4,000ft peaks, and a traverse of England's old six northern county tops. He "bagged" all the 3,000ft peaks of Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales and travelled abroad extensively in pursuit of mountain adventure.

He was introduced to rock-climbing aged 62 by a Yorkshireman, Frank Milner, and the following year they traversed the spectacular Cuillin Ridge on the Isle of Skye, repeating this epic when Stan was 71. The pair spent 15 winters walking and climbing in Scotland and the much younger Milner says: "I never once heard Stan complain of being tired." Stan is survived by his wife Ida, daughter Carol and granddaughter Suzanna.